Indication of user equipment capabilities before radio resource control connection

ABSTRACT

The invention is a method of setup involving at least one user equipment and a system. A method of setup involving user equipment in accordance with the invention includes transmitting a request for communications from at least one user equipment ( 10 ), having a current band of operation in a wireless network ( 12 ), to a controller ( 14 ) of the wireless network, the request containing information indicating any capability of the at least one user equipment to operate in any other band other than the current band of operation in the wireless network; and the controller, in response to the capability of the at least one user equipment to operate in any other band than the current band of operation and load conditions in the network, transmits to the at least one user equipment that the communications are to be established in another band in the wireless network than the current band of operation in the wireless network.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/180,537filed Jun. 27, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,158,810.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the connection of user equipment (UE)under the control of a network controller within a first wirelessnetwork to a new carrier or band in the first wireless network or toanother wireless network.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

FIG. 1 illustrates the connection of UE 10 to a universal terrestrialradio access network (UTRAN) 12 under the control of a radio networkcontroller (RNC) 14 as specified in 3GPP 25.331, Section 8.1.3 which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The RNC 14 sends aRadio Resource Control (RRC) CONNECTION SETUP message to the UE 10.Thereafter, the UE 10 sends an RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE messageback to the RNC 14, which is in accordance with current 3GPPspecifications and includes certain capabilities of the UE 10. Thecapabilities of the UE 10 contained in the RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETEmessage are utilized by the RNC 14 in accordance with known operationalprocedures for a purpose other than permitting the RNC 14 to move the UE10 to a new carrier or band in UTRAN 12 or to another wireless network(not illustrated).

In a process known as “directed RRC connection setup”, RNC 14 may directUE 10, after the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST, to another carrier before setupis completed. This process has not been used to move UE 10 to a new bandin UTRAN 12 or to a new network other than GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network(GERAN).

Additional frequency spectrum for use with wideband code divisionmultiple access (WCDMA) is currently being discussed in the 3GPP RAN WG4. Among new bands which are being discussed, is a band between 2.5 and2.69 GHz. This new band is proposed to be used by UTRAN 12 for loadbalancing and has the advantage that the new band may be used becausethere is no need for the UTRAN to make interfrequency measurements inconnection with the process known as “directed RRC connection setup”.This permits savings of network capacity and allows full trunking gains.

However, UE 10 will become widely available which have the capacity toreceive in the new frequency band. Until all UE 10 have this capability,only some of the UE 10 may be shifted from the core band to the new bandin the UTRAN 12. There is no current mechanism for informing the RNC 14before setup is complete of the capability of the individual UE 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method of setup involving UE and a system.The present invention provides an improvement over the prior art bytransmitting, in a request for setup such as, without limitation, in aRRC CONNECTION REQUEST between at least one UE and a controller of afirst wireless network, information, such as a field, indicating anycapability of the UE to operate with a new carrier or new band in thefirst wireless network or in another network. Additionally, otherinformation may be transmitted in the field involving the operation ofthe UE alone or in combination with the aforementioned capability of theUE to operate with a new carrier or new band in a first wireless networkor in another network. The other information may include a quality ofservice to be provided to the UE, content type of information to beprovided to the UE, and/or information relating to the operation of theUE providing more detail than 3GPP traffic classes, such as minimumrequired bit rate, transfer delay, error rate or to direct a specifiedbit rate to a wireless local area network (WLAN) to be provided to theUE.

The information in the field has several usages. The capability of theUE to switch carriers and/or bands in the first network and to switch toother networks enables the RNC of the first wireless network todetermine with respect to load conditions in the first network or otheroperational criteria of the first wireless network whether the UE is tobe handed off to another carrier or band in the first network or toanother network using a communication such as, but not limited to,directed RRC connection setup. Moreover, the providing of the otherinformation enables the services which are provided to the UE once setupis complete to be efficiently delivered and enhanced in a new carrier orband in a first network or another network being made available to theUE.

A method of setup involving user equipment in accordance with theinvention includes transmitting a request for communications from atleast one user equipment, having a current band of operation in awireless network, to a controller of the wireless network, the requestcontaining information indicating any capability of the at least oneuser equipment to operate in any other band other than the current bandof operation in the wireless network; and the controller, in response tothe capability of the at least one user equipment to operate in anyother band than the current band of operation and load conditions in thenetwork, transmits to the at least one user equipment that thecommunications are to be established in another band in the wirelessnetwork than the current band of operation in the wireless network. Theinformation may indicate only if the at least one user equipment willoperate in at least one other band than the current band of operation inthe wireless network. The information may indicate any capability of theat least one user equipment to operate in any other band than thecurrent band of operation of the wireless network and contains otherinformation relating to operation of the at least one user equipment.The information may indicate that the at least one user equipment isoperational in multiple bands which are identified in the field. Theinformation may comprise one bit which indicates if the at least oneuser equipment is operational in only a single other band. The anotherband may include frequencies of at least 2.5 GHz. The information mayinclude Information relating to a quality of service to be provided tothe at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment.

A system in accordance with the invention includes a wireless network;at least one user equipment having a current band of operation in thewireless network; and a controller of the wireless network; wherein theat least one user equipment transmits to the controller a request forcommunications from the at least one user equipment in the wirelessnetwork, the request containing information indicating any capability ofthe at least one user equipment to operate within any other band thanthe current band of operation in the wireless network and thecontroller, in response to a capability of the at least one userequipment to operate in any other band than the current band ofoperation and load conditions in the wireless network, transmits to theat least one user equipment that communications are to be established inanother band in the wireless network than the current band of operationin the wireless network. The information may indicate any capability ofthe at least one user equipment to operate in any other band than thecurrent band of operation of the wireless network and contains otherinformation relating to operation of the at least one user equipment.The information may indicate that the at least one user equipment isoperational in multiple bands which are identified in the field. Theinformation may comprise one bit which indicates if the at least oneuser equipment is operational in only a single other band. The anotherband may include frequencies of at least 2.5 GHz. The information mayinclude information relating to a quality of service to be provided tothe at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment.

A method of setup involving user equipment in accordance with theinvention includes transmitting a request for communications from atleast one user equipment, having a current carrier in a wirelessnetwork, to a controller of the wireless network, the request containinginformation indicating any capability of the at least one user equipmentto operate with any other carrier other than the current carrier in thewireless network; and the controller, in response to the capability ofthe at least one user equipment to operate with any other carrier in thewireless network than with the current carrier and load conditions inthe wireless network, transmits to the at least one user equipment thatthe communications are to be established with another carrier in thewireless network than the current carrier of the wireless network. Theinformation may indicate that the at least one user equipment isoperational in multiple carriers which are identified in the field. Theinformation may comprise one bit which indicates if the at least oneuser equipment is operational in only a single other carrier. Theanother carrier may include communication frequencies in a 2.5-2.69 GHz.band, a 1900-1920 MHz. band or a 2010-2025 MHz. band. The informationmay include information relating to a quality of service to be providedto the at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment.

A system in accordance with the invention includes a wireless network;at least one user equipment having a current carrier in the wirelessnetwork; and a controller of the wireless network; wherein the at leastone user equipment transmits a request for communications from the atleast one user equipment to the controller of the wireless network, therequest containing information indicating any capability of the at leastone user equipment to operate with any other carrier than the currentcarrier in the wireless network and the controller, in response to acapability of the at least one user equipment to operate with any othercarrier than the current carrier and load conditions in the wirelessnetwork, transmits to the at least one user equipment thatcommunications are to be established with another carrier in thewireless network than the current carrier in the wireless network. Theinformation may indicate that the at least one user equipment isoperational in multiple carriers which are identified in the field. Theinformation may comprise one bit which indicates if the at least oneuser equipment is operational in only a single other carrier. Theanother band may include frequencies in a 2.5-2.69 GHz. band, a1900-1920 MHz. band or a 2010-2025 MHz. band. The information mayinclude information relating to a quality of service to be provided tothe at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment.

A method of setup involving user equipment in accordance with theinvention includes transmitting a request for communications from atleast one user equipment currently operating in a first wireless networkto a controller of the first wireless network, the request containinginformation indicating any capability of the at least one user equipmentto operate within any other wireless network other than the firstwireless network; and the controller, in response to a capability of theat least one user equipment to operate in another wireless network,transmits to the at least one user equipment that the communications areto be established in the another wireless network. The information mayindicate that the at least one user equipment is operational in multiplewireless networks which are identified in the field. The information maycomprise one bit which indicates if the at least one user equipment isoperational in only a single other wireless network. The another networkmay include a WLAN. The information may include information relating toa quality of service to be provided to the at least one user equipment,a content type of information to be provided to the at least one userequipment, a transfer delay to be provided to the at least one userequipment with the communications, or a bit rate to be provided with thecommunications to the at least one user equipment.

A system in accordance with the invention includes at least one userequipment; a first network including a network controller; at least oneadditional wireless network; and wherein the at least one user equipmenttransmits a request for communications from at least one user equipment,currently operating in the first wireless network, to the controller,the request containing information indicating any capability of the atleast one user equipment to operate in any other wireless network thanthe first wireless network and the controller, in response to acapability of the at least one user equipment to operate in an otherwireless network in the first wireless network, transmits to the atleast one user equipment that communications are to be established inthe another wireless network. The information may indicate that the atleast one user equipment is operational in multiple other wirelessnetworks which are identified in the information. The information maycomprise one bit which indicates if the at least one user equipment isoperational in only a single other wireless network. The another networkmay include a WLAN. The information may include Information relating toa quality of service to be provided to the at least one user equipment,a content type of information to be provided to the at least one userequipment, a transfer delay to be provided to the at least one userequipment with the communications, or a bit rate to be provided with thecommunications to the at least one user equipment.

A method of setup involving user equipment in accordance with theinvention includes transmitting a request for communications from atleast one user equipment to a controller of a first wireless network,the request containing information pertaining to operation of the atleast one user equipment in a wireless network; and the controller, inresponse to the information pertaining to the operation of the at leastone user equipment and conditions in the first wireless network,transmits to the at least one user equipment that the communications areto be established in a wireless network in accordance with theinformation pertaining to the operation of the at least one userequipment. The field may indicate if the at least one user equipmentwill operate in at least one other band than a current band of operationin the first wireless network. The information may indicate if the atleast one user equipment will operate with any other carrier than acurrent carrier of the at least one user equipment. The information mayindicate if the at least one user equipment will operate in any otherwireless network than the first wireless network. The information mayinclude Information relating to a quality of service to be provided tothe at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment. The information may comprise one bit which indicates ifthe at least one user equipment is operational in only a single otherband. The information may comprise one bit which indicates if the atleast one user equipment is operational with only a single othercarrier. The information may contain a single bit which indicates if theat least one user equipment is operational in only a single otherwireless network. The another band may include frequencies of at least2.5 GHz. The another carrier may include frequencies in a 2.5-2.69 GHz.band, a 1900-1920 MHz. band or 2010-2025 MHz. band. The another networkmay include a WLAN.

A system in accordance with the invention includes at least one userequipment; and a first wireless network including a controller; whereinthe at least one user equipment transmits a request for communicationsfrom the at least one user equipment to the controller, the requestcontaining information pertaining to operation of the at least one userequipment in a wireless network and the controller, in response to theinformation pertaining to the operation of the at least one userequipment and conditions in the first wireless network, transmits to theat least one user equipment that communications are to be established ina wireless network in accordance with the information pertaining to theoperation of the at least one user equipment. The information mayinclude Information relating to a quality of service to be provided tothe at least one user equipment, a content type of information to beprovided to the at least one user equipment, a transfer delay to beprovided to the at least one user equipment with the communications, ora bit rate to be provided with the communications to the at least oneuser equipment. The information may comprise one bit which indicates ifthe at least one user equipment is operational with only a single othercarrier. The information may contain a single bit which indicates if theat least one user equipment is operational in only a single otherwireless network. The another band may include frequencies in a 2.5-2.69GHz. band, a 1900-1920 MHz. band or a 2010-2025 MHz. band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a prior art method of setup between UEand an UTRAN network.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate block diagrams of a system and method of thepresent invention.

Like parts art identified with like designations throughout thedrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate block diagrams of a system and method inaccordance with the present invention. The system and method of FIGS. 2Aand 2B differs from the prior art of FIG. 1 by transmitting information,such as in a field, specifying extra UE 10 capabilities as part of asetup request for communications from UE 10 to RNC 14. The extra UE 10capabilities convey information about the capability of operation of theUE 10 in a band or with a carrier of a first network UTRAN 12illustrated in FIG. 2A or in another network(s) 20 illustrated in FIG.2B or other information about the operation of the UE 10, such asquality of service QoS, which the UE 10 is to receive, informationcontent which the UE 10 is to receive, transfer delay which the UE 10 isto receive or bit rate of the communications the UE 10 is to receive.The extra capabilities of the embodiment of FIG. 2A include any newcarrier capability and/or band capability in UTRAN 12 and theaforementioned other information. The extra capabilities of theembodiment of FIG. 2B, include any new network capability in othernetwork 20 and the aforementioned other information. The extra UE 10capabilities which are transmitted by the UE 10 setup message, such asin the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST, typically will include all theaforementioned information about operation in other bands or carriers ofthe first network UTRAN 12, about operation in other network 20 and theaforementioned other information so that the RNC 14 has the completerange of possible operations of the UE 10 during setup beforedetermining the setup to be actually used. The another carrier(s) ofFIG. 2A includes frequencies of at least 2.5 GHz., such as up to 2.69GHz., or within a band 1900-1920 MHz. or a band 2010-2025 MHz. Theanother network(s) 20 include a WLAN and bit rates may be specified withthe other information to the WLAN to provide high data ratecommunications. A preferred type high data setup request is the priorart RRC CONNECTION REQUEST which has been modified to include theaforementioned extra UE 10 capabilities illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.The information maybe a single bit which indicates the operationalcapability of the UE 10 to operate in a single new band, or with asingle new carrier in the first network UTRAN 12 as illustrated in FIG.2A or within another or new network(s) 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2B.Alternatively, the information may contain multiple bits describingadditional bands or carriers of operation in the first network UTRAN 12,as illustrated in FIG. 2A, or in new network(s) 20, as illustrated inFIG. 2B, and/or other information relating to UE 10 including requiredminimum bit rate, transfer delay, UE 10 requested quality of service orcontent type or any combination of the above included in the setuprequest such as the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST.

The RNC 14 determines from the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST and specifically,the aforementioned information, whether the UE 10 is capable ofoperation in other band or with another carrier in the first networkUTRAN 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2A or in another network(s) 20 asillustrated in FIG. 2B, and/or is to operate in accordance with theother information which does not pertain to band or carrier operation inthe first network UTRAN 12 or operation in another network(s) 20.

If the answer is “yes” that the UE 10 is capable of other carrier orband operation in the first network UTRAN 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2Aor in another network(s) 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the RNC 14determines, in response to the indicated capability of the UE 10 whetherto operate in another band or carrier in the first network or in anothernetwork 20. This decision takes into consideration load or otherconditions in the first network and/or other conditions such as servicedelay, quality of service, bit rate, or requested content to be providedto the UE 10. Assuming that load or other conditions warrant assigningthe UE 10 to operate in another carrier or band of the UTRAN 12, asillustrated in FIG. 2A or in another network(s) 20 as illustrated inFIG. 2B, the RNC 14 transmits to the UE 10 a message which maybe a RRCCONNECTION SETUP message which indicates that the UE l0 is to operate inanother band or carrier of the first network UTRAN 12 than the currentband or carrier of operation of the first wireless network asillustrated in FIG. 2A which includes a direction specifying the othercarrier or band in UTRAN 12 or a RRC CONNECTION REJECTION WITHREDIRECTION INFORMATION TO OTHER NETWORKS as illustrated in FIG. 2B.Thereafter, the UE 10 transmits to the RNC 14 a message that setup iscomplete which may be the RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE message asillustrated in FIG. 2A or in case of redirection to another network 20sends an OTHER NETWORK CONNECTION REQUEST message to the other networkas illustrated in FIG. 2B. The OTHER NETWORK CONNECTION REQUEST messageinforms the other network 20 that the UE 10 is to have communicationsset up through it. The OTHER NETWORK CONNECTION REQUEST message mayoptionally include the EXTRA UE 10 CAPABILITIES of the RRC CONNECTIONREQUEST of FIG. 2A with the included information being used in the othernetwork 20 in an analogous fashion to the use in FIG. 2A.

Conversely, if the RNC 14 determines that load or other conditions donot warrant that the UE 10 should operate in another band or carrier ofthe first network UTRAN 12 or in another network(s) 20, the RRCCONNECTION SETUP message indicates to the UE 10 that operation willcontinue in the UTRAN 12 in the current band or with the currentcarrier. Thereafter, a RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE message istransmitted from the UE 10 to the UTRAN 12.

The RNC 14 may, in response to the field in the setup request, use thedirected RRC connection setup message, to assign the UE 10 to differentcarriers or different bands in the first network UTRAN 12 as illustratedin FIG. 2A or to another network(s) 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2B. Loadconditions or other conditions of the UTRAN 12 may be used as a basis tocontrol assigning of the UE 10 to another band, such as the proposed 2.5to 2.69 GHz. band, a 1900-1920 MHz. band or a 2010-2025 MHz. band orcarrier in the first network UTRAN 12 than the current band or currentcarrier or to another network(s) 20 including WLANs. As a result of theset up request, such as the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST containinginformation indicating any other band or carrier capabilities of the UE10 in the first network UTRAN 12 or network capability of the UE 10 inanother network(s) 20, the RNC 14 may intelligently assign only thoseUEs 10 which have the capability to operate in another band(s) or withanother carrier(s) of the first network UTRAN 12 or another network(s)20, so as to save network capacity and to permit efficient load sharing.

The other information within the setup request, e.g. in the RRCCONNECTION REQUEST, may be used alone or in combination with the band orcarrier capability information of the UE 10 in the first network UTRAN12 or new network(s) 20 discussed above. For example, as stated above,the other information may include information more detailed than 3GPPtraffic classes, such as minimum required bit rate, transfer delays anderror rates, requested service such as quality of service (QoS)parameters, or any subset thereof, if new band(s) are more suitable tothe UE 10 for reasons such as uplink and downlink capacity or ifparticular types of content may be served in particular bands such asthe result of legal restriction.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A user equipment operable in one of a current band and a currentcarrier in a wireless network, configured to: transmit a setup requestfor communications to a controller in said wireless network includinginformation indicating at least one of a capability of said userequipment to operate in another band and another carrier in saidwireless network, and another wireless network; and establishcommunications in one of said another band and said another carrier insaid wireless network, and said another wireless network, in response toa message from said controller based on said information in said setuprequest.
 2. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said userequipment is further configured to transmit a setup complete message inresponse to said message from said controller.
 3. The user equipment asrecited in claim 2 wherein said setup complete message is one of a RRCCONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE message and an OTHER NETWORK CONNECTIONREQUEST message.
 4. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid setup request is a RRC CONNECTION REQUEST message and said messagefrom said controller is one of an RRC CONNECTION SETUP message and anRRC CONNECION REJECTION WITH REDIRECTION INFORMATION TO OTHER NETWORKmessage.
 5. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said setuprequest includes other information selected from a group consisting of:a content type of information for said communications, a transfer delayassociated with said communications, a bit rate to be provided with saidcommunications, and a quality of service for said communications.
 6. Theuser equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said message from saidcontroller is a function of at least one of load conditions, servicedelay, quality of service, bit rate and content type.
 7. The userequipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said setup request includesinformation indicating at least one of a capability of said userequipment to operate in multiple bands and multiple carriers in saidwireless network, and multiple wireless networks, said user equipmentconfigured to establish communications in one of said another band fromsaid multiple bands, said another carrier from said multiple carriers,and said another wireless network from said multiple wireless networks.8. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said information orportions thereof in said setup request message is indicated in a singlebit.
 9. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said anotherband includes frequencies of at least 2.5 GHz.
 10. The user equipment asrecited in claim 1 wherein said another wireless network is a wirelesslocal area network.
 11. The user equipment as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid information or portions thereof in said setup request message isindicated in a single bit.
 12. A method of operating user equipmentoperable in one of a current band and a current carrier in a wirelessnetwork, comprising: transmitting a setup request for communications toa controller in a wireless network including information indicating atleast one of a capability of said user equipment to operate in anotherband and another carrier in said wireless network, and another wirelessnetwork; and establishing communications in one of said another band andsaid another carrier in said wireless network, and said another wirelessnetwork, in response to a message from said controller based on saidinformation in said setup request.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12further comprising transmitting a setup complete message in response tosaid message from said controller.
 14. The method as recited in claim 12wherein said setup request includes other information selected from agroup consisting of: a content type of information for saidcommunications, a transfer delay associated with said communications, abit rate to be provided with said communications, and a quality ofservice for said communications.
 15. The method as recited in claim 12wherein said message from said controller is a function of at least oneof load conditions, service delay, quality of service, bit rate andcontent type.
 16. A controller adapted to control user equipmentoperable in one of a current band and a current carrier in a wirelessnetwork, configured to: receive a setup request for communications fromsaid user equipment including information indicating at least one of acapability of said user equipment to operate in another band and anothercarrier in said wireless network, and another wireless network; andtransmit a message based on said information to said user equipment toestablish communications in one of said another band and said anothercarrier in said wireless network, and said another wireless network. 17.The controller as recited in claim 16 further configured to receive asetup complete message from said user equipment.
 18. The controller asrecited in claim 17 wherein said setup complete message is one of a RRCCONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE message and an OTHER NETWORK CONNECTIONREQUEST message.
 19. The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein saidsetup request is a RRC CONNECTION REQUEST message and said message fromsaid controller is one of an RRC CONNECTION SETUP message and an RRCCONNECION REJECTION WITH REDIRECTION INFORMATION TO OTHER NETWORKmessage.
 20. The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein said setuprequest includes other information selected from a group consisting of:a content type of information for said communications, a transfer delayassociated with said communications, a bit rate to be provided with saidcommunications, and a quality of service for said communications. 21.The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein said message from saidcontroller is a function of at least one of load conditions, servicedelay, quality of service, bit rate and content type.
 22. The controlleras recited in claim 16 wherein said setup request includes informationindicating at least one of a capability of said user equipment tooperate in multiple bands and multiple carriers in said wirelessnetwork, and multiple wireless networks, said user equipment configuredto establish communications in one of said another band from saidmultiple bands, said another carrier from said multiple carriers, andsaid another wireless network from said multiple wireless networks. 23.The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein said information orportions thereof in said setup request message is indicated in a singlebit.
 24. The controller as recited in claim 16 wherein said another bandincludes frequencies of at least 2.5 GHz.
 25. The controller as recitedin claim 16 wherein said another wireless network is a wireless localarea network.
 26. A method of operating a controller adapted to controluser equipment operable in one of a current band and a current carrierin a wireless network, comprising: receiving a setup request forcommunications from said user equipment including information indicatingat least one of a capability of said user equipment to operate inanother band and another carrier in said wireless network, and anotherwireless network; and transmitting a message based on said informationto said user equipment to establish communications in one of saidanother band and said another carrier in said wireless network, and saidanother wireless network.
 27. The method as recited in claim 26 furthercomprising receiving a setup complete message from said user equipment.28. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein said setup requestincludes other information selected from a group consisting of: acontent type of information for said communications, a transfer delayassociated with said communications, a bit rate to be provided with saidcommunications, and a quality of service for said communications. 29.The method as recited in claim 26 wherein said message from saidcontroller is a function of at least one of load conditions, servicedelay, quality of service, bit rate and content type.
 30. The method asrecited in claim 26 wherein said information or portions thereof in saidsetup request message is indicated in a single bit.